Homebrew Dryad Species Details

Known from myth as beautiful tree spirits of the wild forests, dryads are as varied as plants themselves. Born of sacred groves and enchanted forests, dryads serve as protectors and agents of the forests, going where their deep roots cannot. Each dryad retains unique traits and magics from their homes, which are reflected in their appearance.

While most dryads are bound to their grove or tree, these dryads are granted magical agency, have been disconnected by tragedy, or are the descendants of exiles. Three cultivars appear below. 

Ash

Hard as iron, ash wood serves as the haft for dwarven axes and the axles of orc caravans. Many ash dryads are the same, tall beings with angular faces and rough bark for skin, their eyes amber or black.

Vine

Creeping through the canopy, stretching to the light, vines grow faster than trees, taking advantage of their scaffolding. In return they bloom with bright blossoms and bear flavorful fruit. Vine dryads may be flamboyantly coloured like the passionfruit, with bright petals for eyebrows or hair, or they may have the dark green skin and sinewy muscles of the strangler fig.

Willow

A slender tree known for its grace, willows spread their canopies over city parks and shade the farmer's fishing hole. Willow dryads tend to be paler, with slender limbs and a calming presence.

Dryad Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 4–6 feet tall) or Small (about 2-4 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet

Dryad Traits

As a Dryad, you have these special traits.

Champion of the Forest

You may communicate with Plant creatures as if you shared a common language.

Dryad Cultivar

You were grown from the land, inheriting the traits of your homeland. Choose a cultivar from the Dryad Cultivar table. You gain the level 1 benefit of that lineage.

When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you learn a higher-level spell, as shown on the table. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.

Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for the spells you cast with this trait (choose the ability when you select the lineage).

Dryad Cultivars

Cultivar	Level 1	Level 3	Level 5
Ash	You know the Shillelagh cantrip. You may use Shillelagh on your unarmed strikes instead of a club or quarterstaff.	Faerie Fire	Barkskin
Vine	You know the Thorn Whip cantrip. You have a Climb Speed of 30 feet.	Entangle	Web
Willow	You know the Blade Ward cantrip. While it is active, allied creatures within 5 feet of you also benefit from its effect.	Longstrider	Warding Bond

Gift of the Land

You know the Druidcraft cantrip. When you cast it with this trait, the spell uses the same spellcasting ability you use for your Dryad Cultivar trait.

Glamour

A mystical glamour protects you from harmful magics. When you make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, you expend that glamour, adding twice your proficiency bonus to the saving throw and potentially turning a failure into a success. Whether you succeed or fail, your Glamour is expended.

As an action, you may restore your Glamour. You may do so a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus.